Some say the 1993 team was the best Pens team ever. Looking at the playoff roster though, I think we had two of the best players to ever play for the Pens and a top 6 playing great hockey but then got shut down and there was no one else to step up.

Really great top 5, pretty weak bottom 7 though. Gone from the year before was Trottier, Errey, Bourque and Hrdina up front. Big drop in veteran presence and they lost the ability for supporting scoring vs the Isles. The Errey for Ramsey trade really hurt the team. I think Errey may have got us past the Isles since Loney could have skipped down a line making the lineup better.

In 2013, you stop Sid and Malkin you still have Sutter, Morrow, Cooke, Jokinen and Bennett to deal with and I think all are better players than the bottom 6 of the 1993 player with Mullen being maybe one exception but several are still probably better now than he was in 1993. This team has a lot of potential to be one of the best ever if everything can click.

I think you're on to something. I didn't remember that Errey had been traded that soon after the Cups. What I do recall is that the 1993 team was loaded with scorers and more finesse guys and was visibly missing "grit". They expected to show up and win. Now that you remind me that Errey was gone, it makes sense.

Kevin Stevens getting his face broken on the ice really shook the team and they weren't the same until they were down by two. It should never have gotten to game 7 of course but that team had a habit of falling behind in a series, hitting the mystical "switch" and coming back. They just played with fire too many times. I still say they win that game if Stevens isn't nearly killed there and then who knows what would happen.

The Stevens facial injury was the biggest factor in them losing. During that season, Lemieux got cancer and by that point in the season his body was tired from all the treatments. Also, Barrasso's daughter I believe had some type of illness. It was too much to overcome I think. When Barrasso made the comment that hockey was "just a job" and that there were "more important things in life than hockey" the yinzers practically ran him out of town, but he was absolutely correct in this case.

Following that season, Stevens was never the same, Tocchet hurt his back, Lemieux was hurt during most of the 1994 season, the Samuelssons got old, and the team entered a period of financial hardship. Had the stars aligned just right, who knows how many more Cups they could have won.

I saw that 96 team in Anaheim. I sat right next to the penguins bench. Anaheim totally destroyed them. I remember Tamer was breaking sticks right next to my face and screaming the entire game. It really scared the hell out of me. As a kid I thought he might jump the glass and start killing people.

No. They beat the Panthers probably, but there's no way they beat the Avs.

Even though they were an expansion, defensive team...look at that 1996 Panthers team...they were deeper than we were, fair or unfair? They didn't have the high end skill certainly, but beyond the top line, which team was really better?

RxBandit66 wrote:The Stevens facial injury was the biggest factor in them losing. During that season, Lemieux got cancer and by that point in the season his body was tired from all the treatments. Also, Barrasso's daughter I believe had some type of illness. It was too much to overcome I think. When Barrasso made the comment that hockey was "just a job" and that there were "more important things in life than hockey" the yinzers practically ran him out of town, but he was absolutely correct in this case.

Following that season, Stevens was never the same, Tocchet hurt his back, Lemieux was hurt during most of the 1994 season, the Samuelssons got old, and the team entered a period of financial hardship. Had the stars aligned just right, who knows how many more Cups they could have won.

I lik Barasso a whole lot, like some still like Jagr, but let's not rewrite history. He became downright antagonistic and that's why he was run of town. It was so bad he would be cheered when he was a healthy scratch. Yeah the guy was treated like garbage, but he heaped a lot of it on himself too.

mikey287 wrote:No. They beat the Panthers probably, but there's no way they beat the Avs.

Even though they were an expansion, defensive team...look at that 1996 Panthers team...they were deeper than we were, fair or unfair? They didn't have the high end skill certainly, but beyond the top line, which team was really better?

RxBandit66 wrote:The Stevens facial injury was the biggest factor in them losing. During that season, Lemieux got cancer and by that point in the season his body was tired from all the treatments. Also, Barrasso's daughter I believe had some type of illness. It was too much to overcome I think. When Barrasso made the comment that hockey was "just a job" and that there were "more important things in life than hockey" the yinzers practically ran him out of town, but he was absolutely correct in this case.

Following that season, Stevens was never the same, Tocchet hurt his back, Lemieux was hurt during most of the 1994 season, the Samuelssons got old, and the team entered a period of financial hardship. Had the stars aligned just right, who knows how many more Cups they could have won.

I lik Barasso a whole lot, like some still like Jagr, but let's not rewrite history. He became downright antagonistic and that's why he was run of town. It was so bad he would be cheered when he was a healthy scratch. Yeah the guy was treated like garbage, but he heaped a lot of it on himself too.

mikey287 wrote:No. They beat the Panthers probably, but there's no way they beat the Avs.

Even though they were an expansion, defensive team...look at that 1996 Panthers team...they were deeper than we were, fair or unfair? They didn't have the high end skill certainly, but beyond the top line, which team was really better?

The 96 team was very good and had depth. Unfortunately, the team had very poor/nonexistent coaching that did not adjust well to the clutch and grab of the Panthers after "new NHL" type officiating during the regular season. I think the Pens vs Avs would have been an awesome series.

The 92 Playoffs Pens are the team to beat IMO. They beat the Rangers and swept the Bruins without Mario before sweeping the Blackhawks, winning 11 in a row to end the playoffs. That team had it all. No true weaknesses. On paper, the 2013 team would be more comparable if Iginla and Morrow were in their primes.

Desiato wrote:The 96 team was very good and had depth. Unfortunately, the team had very poor/nonexistent coaching that did not adjust well to the clutch and grab of the Panthers after "new NHL" type officiating during the regular season. I think the Pens vs Avs would have been an awesome series.

The 92 Playoffs Pens are the team to beat IMO. They beat the Rangers and swept the Bruins without Mario before sweeping the Blackhawks, winning 11 in a row to end the playoffs. That team had it all. No true weaknesses. On paper, the 2013 team would be more comparable if Iginla and Morrow were in their primes.

Agreed. Everyone points to the 93 team as an epic fail, but the 92 team was stacked and they did what they were supposed to. They're my favorite as well. That being said, I am willing to say this team is just as talented because there does not appear to be any weaknesses.